Big LED Lights

LED lighting solutions are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficient qualities. While LED luminaries are most popular in residential properties, there has been an increase in demand for these bulbs in larger applications. 

Many commercial and industrial properties are seeking out LED luminaries to illuminate their spaces. Since these areas consume a significant amount of energy, it is important to invest in LED luminaries. For these types of applications, it is important to choose big LED lights for adequate illumination. 

If you are interested in these luminaries, here is everything you need to know about big LED lights. 

What Are Energy Efficient Lights?

Before we look at big LED lights, it is important to understand what energy efficient lights are and how they work. Energy efficient luminaires were designed as an alternative to traditional lighting methods. These bulbs were far more efficient as they did not waste energy. 

Traditional lamps are highly inefficient as they only convert a small amount of electricity into light energy. The rest of the energy was released through heat emission. These bulbs were also considered environmentally friendly as they are not created with any harmful chemicals and are much easier to dispose of. The best type of energy efficient light is an LED light bulb.

LED bulbs are a great option for people who want to save on energy costs. These lamps are very cost-effective as they do not waste any energy through heat emission. If an LED does produce heat, it is significantly less compared to a traditional light bulb. 

Due to rising energy prices in the UK, these luminaires are highly efficient and cost-effective for many applications. However, domestic properties are not the only place where you can implement energy efficient lights. Big LED lights are specially designed to provide high-intensity brightness at a fraction of the cost. 

Big LED lights provide an excellent way to illuminate large spaces without consuming too much energy.  Since LED technology is rapidly advancing, there is a wide choice of energy saving LED light bulbs.

With newer technology, you can find multiple ways of implementing LED bulbs in every form of luminaire. LED light bulbs are grouped in clusters with a diffuser lens which broadens the application for energy saving LED light bulbs in homes, commercial properties, and other locations. 

These lamps are designed to diffuse lights in a naturalistic manner that is not too harsh. Even though some energy saving LED light bulbs have a high upfront cost, they are cheaper than other light bulbs due to their longer life span. 

Traditional Lights Vs. Energy Efficient Lights

An energy efficient light fixture consumes less energy to perform the same function as a standard light. These qualities are at the core of energy efficient lighting. To find the best energy efficient lights, you need to examine these luminaries differently. 

It is important to understand that energy consumption does not correlate to the quality of brightness. While most standard light fixtures use wattage to determine their quality, these innovative lamps focus on the light output instead. 

Therefore, if you are looking for high-quality energy efficiency, make sure to check the lumen output instead of the wattage. Energy saving lights can help you save electricity while providing high-quality illumination. 

Energy efficient lighting also has better structural integrity than other lighting. These luminaries have better structural components than conventional lights as it stops electricity wastage. 

Most traditional light lamps are equipped with a filament, which is the driving force behind their function. However, this filament tends to burn out easily, so you must replace your bulbs often. 

The filament in traditional office lighting also produces heat energy, so most of your power supply produces this heat energy rather than light energy. 

With these qualities, traditional light bulbs have become highly inefficient, especially when compared to energy efficient light models. While energy efficient lighting is most commonly found in households, these lights are also well-suited for commercial properties, factories, office spaces, and public luminaries.

How Do LED Lights Compare To Other Light Bulbs?

If you are familiar with traditional light bulbs, you might not want to switch to a LED model. However, there are many benefits you can enjoy with energy efficient LED luminaries. 

To understand just how well LEDs perform, it is important to compare this bulb with other luminaires. 

A comparison will clearly illustrate why it is important to switch to LED luminaries. To get a better understanding, let’s examine each traditional bulb individually to see how it compares to LED lights. 

Incandescent Light Bulb

The earliest lighting solution was the incandescent light bulb. When this bulb was invented, it was considered a modern way of illuminating spaces. Traditional or incandescent light bulbs were invented over 100 years ago. 

Incandescent light bulbs have a piece of hard metal wire, and this wire has an extremely high melting point. The wire is generally made from tungsten, and a glass cover surrounds it. 

An incandescent light bulb has a hard wire with an extremely high melting point. This wire is made from tungsten, and it is surrounded by a glass cover. When electric energy passes through the bulb, the wire glows, producing a light that fills a room. These components make up the structural form of a traditional light bulb. 

These bulbs were considered highly efficient when they were first introduced. However, due to recent developments in light technology, incandescent light bulbs have become outdated. 

The method with these bulbs creating light energy is highly inefficient as most of the energy is wasted through heat emissions. Additionally, these bulbs use a filament that can easily burn out or break down over prolonged use resulting in higher maintenance and replacement costs. 

In comparison, LED bulbs are not manufactured with a filament, which means you can keep using the same LED light bulb for a long period of time. As mentioned before, LEDs are also much better at converting electric energy into light energy; therefore, you don’t have to worry about wasting money on energy costs. 

While many people have been swapping their incandescent bulbs with LEDs in domestic properties, there are still some larger buildings and factories that use traditional light bulbs. 

Big LED lights are a great replacement for incandescent bulbs in these settings as they provide a high light output at a fraction of the energy costs. After incandescent light bulbs were considered inefficient, manufacturers released an improved model called the halogen light bulb. 

Halogen Light Bulbs

As mentioned before, halogen light bulbs were created as a more efficient model than incandescent bulbs. In this light bulb, a similar filament technology was used; however, the halogen bulb used this component much differently than an incandescent light bulb. 

Halogen bulbs use a higher temperature to create light energy, making them slightly more efficient than a traditional lamp. These bulbs are called halogen lamps because they are manufactured with small amounts of halogen gas. 

This halogen gas reacts with the tungsten vapour from the wire. This creates a chemical mixture that is placed back onto the filament instead of going inside the bulb component. This process allows the halogen light bulb to provide bright illumination, and it extends the lifespan of the bulb, making it last slightly longer than a traditional light bulb. 

Halogen light bulbs are most commonly used in areas that require a larger light output. The most common type of halogen bulb used in commercial and industrial settings is a metal halide lamp. However, since these lamps are not as efficient, many people are switching to LED luminaires. 

If you use halogen lamps or metal halide lamps, it is best to swap these out with big LED lights. Along with traditional or incandescent light bulbs, lower-level halogen light bulbs are being taken off the market for more energy efficient alternatives. 

Halogen lamps are also not very environmentally-friendly as they can release harmful gasses if broken. Due to the chemical makeup of these lights, it is very hard to dispose of them safely. Therefore, it is important to choose LED lamps because they are far better for the environment. 

After the halogen light bulb, modern replacements were designed that produced the same level of illumination but used less electricity.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 

After incandescent and halogen lamps, manufacturers were ready to create a light bulb that was meant to be energy efficient. Compact fluorescent or CFL bulbs were specially designed with energy efficient properties, making them a much better bulb choice than halogen and incandescent light bulbs. 

Compact fluorescent lights have a much longer lifespan than previous traditional light bulbs. An average CFL bulb can last for more than 8,000 hours. Additionally, compact fluorescent bulbs convert 70 to 80% of electric energy into light energy in comparison to traditional light bulbs. These bulbs are also structurally different from traditional light sources. 

CFL light bulbs have a gas called argon inside a glass tube. This gas also contains small amounts of mercury vapor. This process creates ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the naked eye, but once this light passes through a fluorescent coating in the tube, it emits visible light. 

In industrial and commercial facilities, CFL lights in the form of linear fluorescent lamps are commonly used. The lights provide much more illumination than a regular CFL lamp, making it ideal for places that need a higher light output. 

However, big LED lights still outperform CFLs in this area.CFL light bulbs marked a big step toward energy saving light bulbs; however, these luminaries are still not as efficient as LED light bulbs. 

LED Light Bulbs

LED or light emitting diode bulbs are the modern way of illuminating spaces. These light bulbs are the most efficient fixture on the market, and since LED technology keeps developing, you can expect even more efficiency in the future. 

LED light bulbs perform well in almost every capacity when compared to traditional and fluorescent light bulbs. In almost all applications, LED light bulbs have replaced CFL fixtures. Earlier LED light bulbs were designed in a single bulb structure; however, these luminaires have since expanded their design to increase their applicability. 

Modern LED light bulbs are designed in small clusters to give off an even light distribution. Big LED lights have several groups of bulbs to provide intense brightness and illumination. These small bulbs are encased in a diffuser lens to provide naturalistic lighting that does not feel too harsh, no matter the colour temperature. 

In big LED lights, the diffuser component is especially important as it helps spread the light over a wider beam angle. Due to the popularity of energy efficient lighting, LEDs are quickly becoming one of the best choices for domestic lighting. 

For areas that require a high light output, big LED lights are a great way to enjoy high-quality illumination at a fraction of the energy cost. One significant feature of LED light bulbs is that the light beam is directional. This is a feature that was not available in traditional incandescent light bulbs as they spread light in a spherical direction. 

This type of lighting direction favours recessed lighting or under cabinet lighting fixtures; however, directional lighting may not work well in table lamps. Modern LED light bulbs are designed to address directional light limitations. 

These newer LED bulbs use a diffuser lens and a reflector to disperse the light in multiple directions, just like an incandescent light bulb. 

Despite the high energy savings of LED light bulbs, these bulbs have a high upfront cost for many consumers. LED light bulbs also have a high production cost which is a major roadblock to the widespread use of LED bulbs. However, modern research and technology are rapidly evolving to design much more efficient and cost-friendly LED light bulbs. 

Large Scale Shift Towards LED Lights

Many people might be a little apprehensive about energy efficient lighting due to its high costs; however, these lightings are extremely beneficial for anyone who uses them. Lighting is a basic requirement of any building, whether it's residential or commercial. 

Lighting is a major part of our daily life and impacts our day-to-day activities. Since lighting is so important, it also consumes a significant portion of energy. Such high levels of energy consumption are not sustainable, and you will experience higher energy costs in the future. 

To combat such issues, energy efficient lighting is crucial. Industries' energy consumption accounts for 26% of Europe’s total energy usage. A major part of this energy goes toward lighting. In a household, lighting accounts for 15% of the total electricity consumption. 

Outside domestic properties, there is an even higher light energy consumption. Due to these factors, lighting is an important area where energy must be conserved. Energy efficient lights play a key role in energy saving areas. 

Traditional fluorescent lightbulbs are responsible for high energy consumption due to lighting. These traditional light bulbs not only waste energy but also produce a lot of heat which damages the light bulb and requires frequent replacements. 

Once you install energy efficient lighting, you might not see a lot of savings immediately; however, you will experience a major reduction in your energy bills after some time. With the rise of climate change awareness, consumers are also seeking environmentally-friendly and sustainable lighting products. 

Energy efficient lighting such as LEDs is highly efficient and also sustainable. These lights do not contain any harmful chemicals that would make it difficult to dispose of them. 

Traditional light bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury which is highly toxic when released. Even broken shards of incandescent light bulbs can lead to mercury build-up in groundwater.

Energy efficient LEDs can also be recycled easily, unlike other traditional bulbs. These lights do not produce blue waves, which hinders productivity. Due to these qualities, there is an increasing demand for energy efficient light bulbs.

LED batten lighting is far more environmentally friendly than fluorescent tube lighting, making it the ideal choice for large-scale and smaller-scale applications. 

Understanding LED Light Bulbs

While all LED light bulbs are highly efficient, not all models are created the same, and some are far more efficient than others. Despite these differences, almost all LED light bulbs have certain common characteristics that are found in all of these luminaries. The three components crucial to all LEDs are:

• Light Appearance
• Brightness
• Colour rendering

Light Appearance

Most LED luminaires come in a variety of colour options. This feature was unable in previous traditional lighting fixtures, which is why many people are turning to LEDs. The colour appearance is also often called the corrected colour temperature, and it is measured in Kelvins. 

If you want to know whether your lighting has a warm white colour or a cool crisp shade, you must look at the Kelvin value. The Kelvin value directly corresponds to a colour scale ranging from warm white to cool white. 

To understand the Kelvin scale, you must remember that the lower the number, the warmer the light is. In the end, the higher the number, the cooler the light is. As mentioned before, traditional lights are very limited when it comes to colour temperature range. 

Most incandescent light bulbs tend to lean towards a warmer white colour, while fluorescent bulbs provide a cool white light. With LEDs, you can toggle through multiple colour temperatures to choose the best possible shade for your application. 

Brightness

Previously, if you wanted a powerful bulb that produced excellent brightness, you would look at the wattage to determine its strength. However, this method does not work well with LEDs as they are energy efficient. 

Since LED bulbs use less energy, the wattage is inaccurate in calculating an LED bulb’s strength. To find the brightest LED bulb, you must look at the lumen output instead. The lumen output is the best way to measure how bright your bulb is. 

Colour Rendering

When most people purchase a light bulb, they mainly look at the colour the bulb itself emits; however; you must also look at how this colour temperature interacts with the objects in a room. Colour rendering refers to how light fixtures display the colour of objects being illuminated. 

For example, if you are using a warm white light in a room, your clothing colour might appear differently if the bulb projects a cool white light. To measure the colour rendering of your LED light, you should look for a value denoted with a CRI. 

The CRI scale ranges from 0 to 100. For most LED fixtures, an 80 CRI is ideal for many locations; however, some locations might require a CRI of 90 or higher. 

What Are The Benefits Of Big LED Lights?

If you are still trying to decide about switching to big LED lights, here are some important benefits of these luminaires. 

Much Longer Lifespan

LED lights are well-known for their energy saving qualities as they consume less wattage to provide high levels of illumination; however, these luminaires also help you save money in other ways. 

One of the easiest ways this light helps you save is by reducing your replacement costs. LED light fixtures, no matter their size, have a much longer lifespan compared to other light fixtures. Even slightly efficient fixtures such as CFLs are no match for an LED's lifespan. 

In fact, some LEDs can last over 25,000 hours, while most CFLs only last 8,000 hours. With a longer lifespan, you don’t have to worry about constantly replacing your bulbs; therefore, you end up saving money on light bulb expenditures in the long run. 

In large spaces such as commercial or industrial areas, you can maintain the quality of your lighting by investing in big LED lights. Some big LED lights have an even longer lifespan than an average household LED bulb. 

Better Durability

One of the main reasons why LED light fixtures maintain their longer lifespan is their durability. LED light fixtures are extremely durable compared to other traditional light sources. The structural component of an LED plays a major role in extending its durability. 

Since LED lights do not have a filament, they do not suffer damage through heat emissions. In traditional light bulbs, the filament often burns out quickly, which means you have to keep replacing your light bulb. 

Additionally, LED lights can also perform well in various harsh temperatures, including colder areas. 

Little To No Heat Emission

One of the biggest drawbacks of an incandescent bulb is heat emission. Not only do the heat emissions decrease the lifespan of the bulb, but they also waste energy. These emissions from incandescent bulbs also increase the temperature of any room installed. 

LED lights do not produce any heat emission, and if some older LED bulbs produce heat, it is much less than traditional light fixtures. Most LED bulbs produce 3.4 BTU of heat per hour. In comparison, incandescent light bulbs emit 85 BTU of heat per hour. 

The reason why LEDs have better thermal management is due to their heatsinks. Almost all LED lights are built with a heat sink that absorbs any thermal emission and diffuses it into the environment.

For a highly efficient light bulb, make sure to look at the heat sink component as well. LED luminaires, including big LED lights, keep your room or building cool even after staying on for a long time. 

Better For The Environment

Due to a recent increase in awareness about environmental concerns, many people are looking for eco-friendly ways to light up spaces. LED light fixtures are a great step in introducing more eco-friendly lighting alternatives in multiple settings. 

LEDs are considered environmentally friendly as they are energy efficient and because they are not manufactured with any harmful chemicals. Some traditional light bulbs, such as CFLs, use mercury vapour to produce light. 

If a bulb with mercury breaks, it can escape as a vapour and harm the environment. Additionally, mercury vapour is also harmful to humans if it is inhaled. LED lights are much safer to dispose of as they do not release any harmful chemicals into the air. 

Efficient Lighting For Remote Locations

Since LED light bulbs have a low power requirement, these types of bulbs are convenient for remote locations or areas with a low level of electricity. You can also use solar panel energy to light up LED lights instead of running a generator or electrical line in a remote location. 

LED light bulbs are also highly compatible with small portable generators. Homeowners can power up their LED light fixtures with a small portable generator in the event of a power shutdown and other electrical emergencies. 

What Are The Different Types Of Big LED Light Fixtures?

When it comes to big LED lights, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. Depending on the application, you might need a specific type of big LED luminaire. 

Here are the different types of big LED lights you can find on the market.

LED Batten Light Fixtures

If you have traditional fluorescent tube lighting, you should replace these with energy efficient LED batten lights. LED batten lights are far more efficient than fluorescent tube lights, and they also have a modern look that improves the aesthetic of any space in which this lamp is installed. 

Batten lamps are considered big LED lights as they provide much more illumination than an average domestic LED bulb. These lights are designed to provide a wide cast illumination that is ideal for larger spaces. 

Batten lights are commonly used in industrial settings such as factories and warehouses as they improve visibility and reduce eye strain. These luminaries are a much better choice compared to fluorescent lamps as there is no light flickering. 

Most fluorescent tube lights can start flickering when they are at the end of their lifespan, and this can cause several health hazards. LED batten lights do not flicker even if they are at the end of their lifespan. 

The average LED batten light comes in a 5 foot size. However, you can choose between multiple lengths and widths according to your lighting needs. Since batten lights have a slim design, you can use multiple luminaries in your lighting design. 

If you are using multiple batten lights, make sure to check the brightness, as too much lighting can create a glare. 

LED Light Flat Panel Fixtures

If you are looking for lighting that is seamlessly integrated into your ceiling and gives you a wide light beam, you should opt for LED flat panel fixtures. This overhead lighting fixture makes your space bright and more functional for any work-related activities. 

These luminaires are incredibly versatile and can work well in commercial, industrial and warehouse properties. LED flat panel luminaires work as a traditional lighting fixture that can be installed behind ceiling panels to provide illumination for large spaces. 

The integration feature creates a seamless modern look that can elevate any building. These luminaries are great for lighting large spaces, or if you want to invest in fewer light fixtures, you can use one flat panel to illuminate almost all of your installation space. 

Flat panel LED lights generally come in two sizes to fit into your ceiling grid. These are often in a rectangular or square shape to make installation easier. Apart from the shape and size of the flat panel lighting, you must also consider which type of flat panel works best for your application purpose. 

There are two different types of flat panel LED lighting. These include

• Back-Lit Panels: In this light fixture, the LEDs are positioned behind the frame, which makes it easier for them to shine the light through a diffuser. Back-lit panels are less expensive than the other option, making them the popular choice for big LED lighting. 
• Edge-Lit Panels: These luminaries have a thinner shape, and the LEDs are positioned on the edge of the frame. These LED flat panels are slightly more costly than their other counterparts, and they also consume more power compared to other big LED  lighting. 

With these configurations in mind, choosing a light solution that will provide uniform lighting at an economical cost is best.

LED High Bay Lighting

For industrial big LED lights, high bay fixtures are a great choice. LED high bays are specially designed to work well in these settings. High bay lighting is also a great option for buildings that have high ceilings. These areas require specific luminaires that will provide adequate lighting. 

The high bay LED lights create a powerful illumination with a long-range beam to improve the focus and visibility. These lamps perform much better than other traditional options, such as fluorescent and halide lamps.

LED high bay lights are also a great investment because they have an extremely long lifespan and improved energy efficiency. Regular high bay lighting also comes in a round configuration. These LED lamps have all the benefits of a high bay light, but the round configuration makes them better for providing focused lighting. 

These types of lights work best in corridors and other walkways in a warehouse setting where you would need high-intensity directional illumination. 

How To Install Big LED Lights?

If you have decided to install big LED lights, you must consider some important factors to make the installation process easier. Since these luminaires are much bigger than an average LED bulb, certain precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of you and your lighting component. 

Here is how you can safely and easily install big LED lights.

Assess The Operating Limit Of Your LED Light

Before you start using big LED lights, you must test the operating limit of the fixtures. Oftentimes this information is provided in a manual with the lighting. Whether you are using a batten lamp, strip light, or high bay luminaire, you must make sure to assess the light’s operating limit, as this will ensure safe operation. 

Additionally, testing the limit of your fixture will also help you increase the lifespan of your light. 

Avoid Overloading The Power Source

Not all power supplies are built to operate big LED lights; therefore, you must make sure you have the recommended amount of voltage available to power up a large LED fixture. 

If you are using multiple big LED lights, you need to make sure you have ample power supply available. Overloading your power supply can lead to several hazardous situations, including a fire breakout. 

It is recommended that your luminaries only take up around 80% of the power supply’s capacity to avoid any incidents and energy surges. 

Provide Sufficient Power

Another way to ensure your big LED does not suffer any damage is to provide sufficient power. If your LED luminaries are a longer than usual connection to the main switchboard, it is important to ensure that the LEDs keep getting a steady power supply. 

Often you can use more wattage than necessary in order to fulfill this requirement. When you supply more power to the light source, sufficient power will be able to reach the light through the wire. 

As mentioned before, it is recommended that you keep the power supply within the 80% range. This amount of power will ensure an optimum performance that will not damage the big LED lights in the long run.

Use Correct Wiring To Avoid Voltage Drop

Wiring is another crucial component that maintains the quality of your big LED lights. To ensure you have proper wiring, you must look at the wiring gauge, as this indicates the thickness of the wire. A wire gauge with a lower number is heavy, while a wire gauge with a higher number is lighter. 

Additionally, it would be best to look at any parallel run wires feeding into your LED light. If lighting is too far away from its power source, a process called voltage drop happens. Voltage drop happens when there is a slow reduction of voltage along the length of a wire feeding into an LED light fixture. 

Therefore, this process often happens when the light source is too far from the power supply, and there is no proper wiring to ensure a steady supply. Apart from using proper wiring, you can use a voltage drop calculator to find the correct wire gauge based on your LED light fixture. 

The calculator will also let you know how to space out the lighting and what distance is optimal between the light fixture and the power source. You can also consult a professional electrician for more information on this process. 

Final Takeaway

Many homeowners are switching to LED light bulbs for better energy efficiency. Apart from this area, there are several great LED options for a larger application. 

Whether you want to install these luminaries in a commercial lot or an industrial building, big LED lights are extremely efficient and have a long lifespan making them an excellent cost-effective choice.